IMC and Gift for Life “Come Together” To Raise Funds for Ukraine

International Market Centers (IMC) and Gift For Life are joining forces to raise funds through a multipart initiative this summer.

Running from now through August 1, the fundraiser, called “Come Together,” aims to raise money for crisis-related hunger relief in Ukraine by bridging IMC’s digital and physical markets – JuniperMarket, Atlanta Market and Las Vegas Market – to benefit World Central Kitchen’s (WCK) #ChefsForUkraine program.

“As the crisis in Ukraine escalates and as the need for food resilience programs is felt worldwide, we encourage the industry to come together to support the valuable work of Chef José Andrés and WCK,” said IMC CEO Bob Maricich. “By placing orders with participating gift and home furnishings brands – online and in person – buyers and sellers can make a difference for communities in need.”

IMC’s summer market giving event will raise funds in three ways: JuniperMarket will donate $5 per order up to $5,000 through August 1; IMC’s markets in Atlanta and Las Vegas will match donations up to $5,000; and participating vendors will donate a portion of proceeds from at-market sales. Direct donations are also being accepted online. A fundraising goal of at least $25,000 is set for the program and vendors interested in participating in the fundraising can email [email protected] for information on how to join.

To incentivize order-writing on JuniperMarket and individual contributions, IMC has launched a contest to award Atlanta Market and Las Vegas Market hotel and dining prizes for the upcoming summer markets to buyers and sellers who donate online or place Juniper Market orders beginning June 1 through June 15. Winners, who will be randomly selected from all eligible participants, will receive one of seven prizes connected with the summer 2022 markets:

• Atlanta Market
  • Two-night accommodations and breakfast for two at Hotel Indigo
  • Two-night accommodations and breakfast for two at Hyatt Regency
  • Two-night accommodations and breakfast for two at Westin Peachtree Plaza
  • Two-night accommodations and breakfast for two at Marriott Marquis
• Las Vegas Market
  • $150 dining credit at Oscar’s Steakhouse at the Plaza Hotel
  • $200 Dining credit at Bazaar Meat by Jose’ Andres at the Sahara Hotel
  • Two complimentary tickets to either a Gordie Brown Show or a 52 Fridays show at the Golden Nugget Showroom, plus $100 Dining credit for the Salt Grass Steakhouse

Following that, from June 15 through August 1, buyers and suppliers donating directly to the fundraiser or placing orders on JuniperMarket will be eligible to win one of the seven following hotel and dining prizes to be used during IMC’s winter 2023 markets:

• Atlanta Market
  • Two-night accommodations and breakfast for two at Hotel Indigo
  • Two-night accommodations and breakfast for two at Hyatt Regency
  • Two-night accommodations and breakfast for two at Westin Peachtree Plaza
  • Two-night accommodations and breakfast for two at Marriott Marquis
• Las Vegas Market
  • $150 dining credit at Oscar’s Steakhouse at the Plaza Hotel
  • $200 Dining credit at Bazaar Meat by Jose’ Andres at the Sahara Hotel
  • Two complimentary tickets to either a Gordie Brown Show or a 52 Fridays show at the Golden Nugget Showroom, plus $100 Dining credit for the Salt Grass Steakhouse

All funds raised by “Come Together” will be directed to WCK’s #ChefsForUkraine program which has already served more than 27 million meals across eight countries since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 of this year. Through the program, WCK is bringing hundreds of thousands of daily meals and 12 million pounds of food to over 3,000 distribution sites across the country. Additionally, WCK is supporting local restaurants preparing meals in cities across Ukraine including in Odessa, Lviv, and Kyiv.

Adding to the spotlight on Ukraine and the ongoing war, seven Ukrainian furniture manufacturers will be featured in a returning special showcase, the Ukrainian Pavilion, during IMC’s Las Vegas Market this summer, too. Located within the B2 Furniture Temporary Exhibits, manufacturers present will show chairs, tables, sofas, other living room furniture and more.

“Having a direct connection to people in Ukraine who are receiving aid from World Central Kitchen is humbling,” noted Maricich. “We are proud to raise funds to support the communities of the exhibitors who are coming from Ukraine to Las Vegas Market, and are pleased that ‘Come Together’ donations are benefitting workers and their families who are part of our global industry.”

Tivoli sales manager Alla Lisovskaya, who has organized the Ukrainian Pavilion at Las Vegas Market since 2018, actually met WCK chefs while those chefs were at the Polish border feeding Ukrainian refugees.

“The world is small,” said Lisoyskaya, who was transporting furniture for shipment to Las Vegas Market when she met the duo. “By chance, I met two WCK chefs, from Washington DC and San Francisco, in the Lviv region of Ukraine where our factory is located. It was amazing to meet people in our small city who are connected to the same organization that Las Vegas Market fundraising will benefit.”

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